GIANTS NOTEBOOK / First chance for Cepeda to teach

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, March 21, 2006

2006-03-21 04:00:00 PDT Scottsdale , Ariz. -- Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda has been in camp tutoring Lance Niekro and Mark Sweeney on playing first base. With J.T. Snow manning the position for nearly a decade, Cepeda really had nobody to teach because Snow already was a master. But Niekro has much to learn, as does Sweeney, a natural outfielder.

"I'm going to be working with him, and I'm more than happy to do it," Cepeda said of Niekro.

"He won't be like J.T. Snow. Nobody's going to be like J.T., but he's willing to learn. People take first base for granted. It's a very important position. You win games by being in the right place. There are things you don't see from the stands, but they are very important. He learns fast. I like him. He's got some great hands. He has to learn how to be in the right place and learn the hitters."

Niekro said he expects to enjoy Cepeda's counsel throughout the season.

"To get a chance to pick the brain of somebody who had the career he did, it can only help you," Niekro said. "It's nice to know he's behind me and he'll be watching me. I told him, 'Hey, if you see me doing anything wrong, let me know.' "

Steve Finley joined Niekro and Sweeney for one Cepeda tutoring session last week, but Finley said he has no intention of playing first base in the majors. Even though he is a career outfielder, Finley said Little Leaguers often ask him how to approach playing the infield, and he wants to have an intelligent answer.

Valdez coming: The Giants have vacillated on whether to turn prospect Merkin Valdez into a starter or reliever. General manager Brian Sabean said the way Valdez has pitched this spring, starting with his high-90s fastballs, has the club thinking bullpen.

"His stuff has been electric," Sabean said. "He's throwing strikes and the breaking ball is improved. I think his future, and the impact he could have on the major-league roster, it looks like he'll probably start the year in the bullpen."

The question is, whose bullpen? Manager Felipe Alou has suggested Valdez still has a shot to make the team out of spring training, and Sabean would not disagree. The 24-year-old right-hander has allowed three runs in five Cactus League innings, all in his most recent game against Texas.

Briefly: The Giants were off Monday and play the A's today. Alou expects to play most -- if not all -- of his regulars. ... Wednesday's game against the Angels has been moved to 6:05 p.m. PST and will be televised on FSN Bay Area. ... Sweeney has yet to play the outfield this spring, but that will change soon. Also, now that Omar Vizquel and Pedro Feliz are back, Jose Vizcaino will get more playing time on the right side of the infield.